The lack of medicines at the District Ayurvedic Service Center has caused difficulties for patients. Sujal Shrestha, 33, of Mallarani Rural Municipality-4, shared that patients visiting the Pyuthan Ayurvedic Health Service Center for treatment are compelled to return empty-handed due to the unavailability of medicines. He expressed dissatisfaction, stating that he went to the service center to get medicine for gastritis but was informed that the medication was unavailable.
Patients who regularly use Ayurvedic medicines have reported that they cannot obtain the required medication from the District Ayurvedic Service Center when needed. The shortage of medicines at the Ayurvedic Health Service Center has resulted from the inability to procure medication during the current fiscal year. The center provides 23 types of medicines free of charge but demanded items such as Abhipattikar Churna and Ashwagandha Churna are unavailable, as per Shishir Pokhrel, the Chief of the District Ayurvedic Service Center. Pokhrel added that the center has been managing the medicines purchased last year. The budget for medicine procurement is allocated for the third trimester, which has delayed the purchase of medicines. A request has been made to bring the budget forward. He further mentioned that only Rs 600,000 is allocated annually for purchasing medicines, which is insufficient.
Except for Sarumarani Rural Municipality, Ayurvedic services have been made available in all eight local levels of the district. As per the Constitution of Nepal, Article 35, Sub-Article 1, every citizen is guaranteed the right to receive basic health services free of cost. However, the shortage of medicines at the District Ayurvedic Service Center has created difficulties for the patients.